Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Quick Answer
What is an amicable divorce in Michigan?
An amicable divorce is simply a divorce where both spouses agree on every term — property, debts, children, and support. Michigan has no separate 'amicable' case type: the case is filed as an uncontested divorce and finished with a consent judgment. Michigan's waiting periods still apply — generally 60 days without minor children and six months with minor children — and the court filing fee is generally $175 without minor children or $255 with them. Clear Path prepares the documents on a flat fee starting at $449.
What has to be agreed before the paperwork
A judgment of divorce has to resolve everything — the court cannot sign a judgment with open questions in it. Work through this list together before you file. Print it, take it to the kitchen table, and write an answer next to every line.
The house and any real estate
- Who stays, who leaves, and by when
- Whether the home is sold, refinanced, or kept
- Who is responsible for the mortgage, taxes, and insurance until then
- How equity is divided
Vehicles and personal property
- Who keeps each vehicle and who pays the loan
- How titles get transferred
- Furniture, tools, electronics, pets
Bank accounts, debts, and credit
- Which joint accounts close and when
- Who pays each credit card, loan, and medical bill
- How joint debt gets refinanced into one name
Retirement and pensions
- Whether any 401(k), IRA, or pension is divided
- Whether a Qualified Domestic Relations Order will be needed
- The valuation date you both agree on
Children — custody and parenting time
- Legal custody and physical custody
- A written parenting-time schedule including holidays and summers
- Who claims the children on taxes
- How you will handle school, medical decisions, and travel
Child support and spousal support
- Whether support is requested and how much
- Who provides health insurance
- How uninsured medical costs are split
- Whether spousal support is waived or agreed
Names and paperwork
- Whether either spouse restores a former name
- Who serves the paperwork and how it is acknowledged
- Where the final judgment copies go
Not completely agreed? Clear Path cannot resolve disagreements or advise either spouse what terms to accept. Mediation or assistance from a licensed Michigan attorney may be appropriate.
How Michigan timing works
Waiting period, no minor children
Generally 60 days from filing
Waiting period, minor children
Generally 6 months from filing
Court filing fee
$175 / $255 with minor children
Residency
180 days in Michigan, 10 days in the county
A court may shorten the six-month period in limited circumstances, and local practice varies by county. Your county clerk confirms fees and hearing requirements; fee waivers may be available on Form MC 20 if you cannot afford the filing fee.
Flat-fee packages
These are the same packages as our uncontested divorce service — an amicable divorce is an uncontested divorce.
Michigan Uncontested Divorce Packages
All prices are starting estimates. A personalized quote is provided before invoicing, and no payment is collected through this website.
Simple Divorce Paperwork
Starting at $449
Starting estimate — subject to intake review
For completely agreed divorces without children, major assets, or complicated financial issues.
Potential eligibility
- Both spouses agree on every term
- No minor children
- No real estate
- No retirement or pension division
- No spousal support
- No business ownership
- No significant or disputed assets or debts
- No pending bankruptcy
- No unusual legal or financial issues
Potentially included
- Divorce intake and administrative document organization
- Typing client-provided information into client-selected forms
- Initial filing packet
- Client-selected service or acknowledgment forms
- Final uncontested-divorce packet
- General procedural checklist
- One reasonable revision round
- Secure electronic delivery
Estimated outside costs (not paid to Clear Path)
- Michigan court filing fee: $175
- Service-related costs: approximately $0–$150
Estimated overall range: approximately $624–$774
Court, service, copies, postage, attorney services, and third-party expenses are separate.
Standard Uncontested Divorce
Starting at $699
Starting estimate — subject to intake review
For fully agreed divorces involving ordinary property, vehicles, accounts, or debts.
Potential eligibility
- Both spouses agree on every term
- No minor children
- Ordinary property or debt division
- No disputed real estate, retirement, business, spousal-support, bankruptcy, or tax issue
- Exact division terms are supplied by the client or a licensed attorney
Potentially included
- Everything in the Simple Package
- Property-and-debt information worksheet
- Client-supplied property and debt schedules
- Initial and final document packets
- Service paperwork
- Two reasonable revision rounds
- Administrative filing support
- Filing, deadline, and hearing checklist
- Secure electronic delivery
Estimated outside costs (not paid to Clear Path)
- Michigan court filing fee: $175
- Service-related costs: approximately $0–$150
Estimated overall range: approximately $874–$1,024
Court, service, copies, postage, attorney services, and third-party expenses are separate.
Uncontested Divorce With Minor Children
Starting at $1,099
Starting estimate — subject to intake review
For parents who have already reached a complete agreement on all divorce and child-related terms.
Potential eligibility
- Both parents agree on every divorce term
- Exact custody terms have already been decided
- Exact parenting-time terms have already been decided
- Child-support-related information has been established
- Parents have addressed insurance, medical expenses, childcare, tax exemptions, transportation, and other applicable expenses
- No custody, parenting-time, support, property, or safety issue is disputed
Potentially included
- Divorce filing and finalization forms selected by the client or attorney
- Client-selected Friend of the Court forms
- Client-selected UCCJEA forms
- Verified financial-information forms
- Administrative transcription of client-supplied parenting terms
- Service paperwork
- Filing and Friend of the Court checklist
- Two reasonable revision rounds
- Secure electronic delivery
Estimated outside costs (not paid to Clear Path)
- Michigan court filing fee: $255
- Service-related costs: approximately $0–$150
Estimated overall range before other expenses: approximately $1,354–$1,504
Court, service, copies, postage, Friend of the Court charges, attorney services, and other expenses are separate.
Independent attorney review is strongly recommended and may be required before Clear Path accepts the matter.
Complex Agreed Divorce
Custom quote starting at $1,299
Individual screening required before any quote
For agreed divorces involving additional documents, extensive schedules, or issues requiring individual screening.
Potential complexity factors
- Real estate
- Retirement or pension benefits
- Spousal support
- Business ownership
- Bankruptcy
- Substantial assets or debts
- Out-of-state property
- Tax-related provisions
- Multiple real-estate parcels
- Extensive settlement terms
- One spouse has an attorney
- Unusual custody, support, or financial terms
How screening works
- Individual administrative screening of the requested work
- Scope confirmation before any quote is provided
- Personalized written quote if the requested work fits Clear Path's services
- Referral information for an independent licensed attorney when appropriate
Estimated outside costs (not paid to Clear Path)
- Michigan court filing fee: $175 without minor children; generally $255 with minor children
- Service-related costs: approximately $0–$150 or more
Estimated overall range: provided after individual screening
Court, service, copies, postage, recording, attorney services, and third-party expenses are separate.
A starting price does not mean every complex divorce qualifies for Clear Path's non-attorney services. Clear Path must review the requested work before accepting the matter. Some situations require a licensed Michigan attorney.
Clear Path is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Prices are starting estimates. Every matter is reviewed before services are accepted or invoiced.
Every situation is different. Clear Path reviews each request before accepting the matter or issuing an invoice. Completing an intake form does not create a service agreement and does not require payment.
Clear Path is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Prices are starting estimates. Every matter is reviewed before services are accepted or invoiced.
Administrative Add-Ons (Estimated)
Estimated add-on pricing, subject to review. Rush pricing is calculated as a percentage of Clear Path's service fee.
Add-ons are not automatically available. Clear Path will determine administratively whether the requested work falls within its services before including it in a personalized quote.
Court and Third-Party Fees
These costs are set by courts, servers, and other providers — not by Clear Path — and are never bundled into an advertised package price.
Court and third-party fees are not paid to Clear Path unless specifically listed on a personalized invoice as an authorized reimbursement or coordination expense.
How the process works with us
What Happens Next?
Clear Path does not accept online purchases. Here is exactly how a request moves from intake to document preparation.
- 1You review the services and starting prices.
- 2You complete a preliminary intake or request a consultation.
- 3Clear Path reviews the information you provided.
- 4Clear Path contacts you if additional information is needed.
- 5Clear Path determines whether the matter fits its non-attorney administrative services.
- 6If appropriate, Clear Path provides a personalized quote and sends an invoice.
- 7You pay through the separately issued invoice.
- 8Document preparation begins after payment and receipt of the required information.
- 9If the matter requires legal advice or representation, Clear Path may recommend contacting a licensed attorney.
When an amicable divorce isn't the right fit
Call us anyway — we will tell you straight whether paperwork makes sense or whether you should speak with a licensed attorney first. Situations that usually need legal advice:
- There is any domestic violence, threat, or fear in the relationship
- One spouse won't disclose income, accounts, or debts
- You disagree about custody, parenting time, or support
- A business, pension division, or significant asset needs valuation
- One spouse has already hired an attorney
- Either spouse is on active military duty
- One spouse cannot be located
Amicable divorce questions
Related Michigan guides
More Michigan divorce reading — every page includes flat-fee document prep options.
Agreed on everything? Let's get it filed.
Send the intake and we will review your situation, then send a written quote if the matter qualifies. Nothing is purchased online.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a document preparation and filing-assistance service — not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, attorney representation, or create attorney-client relationships. All documents are prepared based on information you provide for educational and administrative purposes.Read full disclaimer.